'The Next Big Thing' Lesnar settles WWE lawsuit

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 1:00 am, Monday, April 24, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Pro wrestler Brock Lesnar has settled his lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., which sought to ban him from performing anywhere in the world until he's past his prime.

Lesnar, who wrestled as "The Next Big Thing," signed the noncompete contract in 2004 when he left the WWE so he could try out for the Minnesota Vikings. He was cut during preseason in August 2004.

The contract restricted Lesnar, 28, from working in sports entertainment until 2010 and applied to many areas in which the former NCAA heavyweight champion from Minnesota might make a living, including ultimate fighting.

In February 2005, Lesnar filed a lawsuit in federal court in Connecticut asking the court to declare the contract unenforceable. The WWE asked the court to prohibit him from working as a wrestler or ultimate fighter anywhere in the world.

Neither side would provide the confidential details of the settlement on Monday, but Lesnar's Minneapolis-based attorney, David Bradley Olsen, said the deal would allow Lesnar to "pursue new ventures while he is still in his athletic prime."

Lesnar has been working as a professional wrestler in Japan since the fall of 2005, his attorney said. Lesnar has no plans to return to the WWE "at this time," Olsen said in a news release.

The WWE issued a statement Monday saying it was pleased with the deal and "believes that the settlement agreement appropriately protects WWE's substantial investment in Brock Lesnar's wrestling character."